MTI big winner at Florida SkillsUSA

( Bradenton , FL — May 1, 2008 ) Cheers, applause and upbeat music filled the Manatee Civic Center as awards were announced for the 41 st Annual Florida SkillsUSA State SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference last night. Manatee Technical Institute students came in first in the state with 147 medals, of which 89 were gold, 42 were silver and 16 were bronze. This is the most medals any school has won in the history of FL-SkillsUSA. Sarasota County Technical Institute came in second with 40 medals, and the Technical Education Center of Osceola came in third with 36.

The gold medalists, as well as 42 other qualifying students from MTI, will advance to the national championships being held in Kansas City , Missouri , in June. They will represent MTI and the State of Florida and compete for the national title in their skill or leadership area.

Over 1,200 students from high schools and technical centers from across the state competed in 53 skills contests and 21 leadership contests, each with two divisions: secondary and postsecondary. The three day competition, which began April 28, was hosted by MTI.

Over 150 representatives from business and industry came from as far away as the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park , NY , to volunteer their time as judges for the state event. Many companies generously donated tools and other items—even scholarships—as gifts for the winners; industry donations/contributions exceeded $250,000. Jaeger and Tropicana were present at the awards ceremony, showing their support.

The SkillsUSA contests are the most important opportunity that students have to compete against their peers and demonstrate their skills. This is the fifth year in row that MTI has come out on top at the state level. For the past four years, MTI has exceeded all other schools by winning the most medals in the nation.

SkillsUSA is an international organization that promotes excellence, employability skills, and ethics to students in career and technical education to better prepare them for successful careers.

The mission of Manatee Technical Institute is to meet and exceed our community's training and educational expectations. MTI is a 2007 Tampa Bay Business of the Year and has won more SkillsUSA medals than any other school in the nation for the past four years.